Aims: The intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) play important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the sport activities with garlic supplementation on the levels of ICAMs and VCAMs in the sedentary women. 

Materials & Methods: In the pretest-posttest semi-experimental study, 40 over-weight women referred to the health clinics in western Tehran were studied in 2015. The subjects, selected via random sample selecting method, were randomly divided into four 10-person groups including sport exercise, exercise with garlic supplementation, supplementation, and control. Two 500mg supplementation capsules were daily administrated. In addition, including 5 sessions a week, 10-week 60-75% of maximum heart beat aerobic activity was conducted. The anthropometric indices, the levels of the adhesion molecules, and blood lipids of the subjects were measured at the beginning and 48 hours after the end of the exercises. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 software using two-way ANOVA, Tukey’s post-hoc, and dependent T tests.

Findings: The ICAM-1 levels in exercise + supplementation and exercise groups, and the VCAM-1 levels in exercise + supplementation and supplementation groups were significantly reduced at the posttest stage compared to the pretest stage, as well as to control group. In addition, the mean weight, lipid percentage, BMI, and LDL-C in exercise and exercise + supplementation groups were significantly reduced. Nevertheless, the cholesterol level was significantly reduced in exercise + supplementation group only (p<0.05). 

Conclusion: 10-week sport activity with garlic supplementation reduces the levels of ICAM and VCAM in the sedentary women.